On December 24, 2024, a tragic incident occurred at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, where a 50-year-old Saudi doctor, currently in preventive custody, drove into a crowd, resulting in five fatalities and over 200 injuries. The motives behind the attack remain unclear.
In the aftermath, far-right groups in Germany have reportedly used the attack to incite hatred against immigrants. Observers have noted a significant increase in racially motivated incidents involving individuals identified as foreigners, with reports of verbal and physical assaults.
A student from Magdeburg described the current atmosphere as hostile and threatening, while the organization Salam indicated that supposed immigrants are being targeted with derogatory labels and aggression in public spaces.
Notably, the attacker had expressed Islamophobic views on social media, revealing a contradiction in the narratives promoted by radical right groups. Following the attack, neo-Nazi and far-right protests erupted across Germany, demanding mass deportations.
One such protest in Magdeburg attracted hundreds of neo-Nazis, during which journalists were assaulted. Thorsten Heise, a notorious neo-Nazi leader, was among the speakers, encouraging attendees to infiltrate public institutions.
On December 25, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which has been criticized for its connections to the far-right, organized a large demonstration in Magdeburg. Thousands participated, including various political leaders and identifiable local hooligans, amidst chants for deportations.
Despite the protest's relative calm, attendees engaged in aggressive behavior towards photographers and law enforcement. David Begrich, an expert on right-wing extremism, condemned the AfD's actions and emphasized the need to focus on the victims and survivors of the attack.
In a contrasting gesture, hundreds gathered in Magdeburg for a collective embrace at the site of the attack, honoring the victims under the initiative 'Do Not Give Hate a Chance.' This event aimed to counteract the extremist narratives fueled by the tragedy.